Purdue ECE student-athlete named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
Purdue ECE student and men’s swimming and diving standout Raymond Whittaker has been named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar for the 2025-26 academic year.
The honor recognizes student-athletes across the conference who earned a grade-point average of 3.7 or higher during the academic year. Whittaker was one of 17 members of Purdue Swimming & Diving to earn the distinction.
A senior from Winthrop, Massachusetts, Whittaker is majoring in electrical engineering in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The Distinguished Scholar recognition adds to a strong record of academic achievement for Whittaker. He was also named Academic All-Big Ten during the 2025-26 season, marking his third consecutive year receiving that honor. He also earned College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America honors, making him one of a select group of Purdue swimmers and divers to earn all three academic distinctions during the year.
The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar award highlights Whittaker’s accomplishments as both a Purdue engineering student and Division I student-athlete, recognizing the academic dedication required to succeed at a high level in the classroom while competing for the Boilermakers.